Any success stories of a service academy cadet to rotc cadet?

[JumpStarter]

I have completed the summer boot camp portion of the service academy of which I am attending. However, I am feeling more and more compelled to try for ROTC at a civilian college. Have you, or do you know anyone who has been able to do this?

 

[AlphaAlphaSigma]

Absolutely. A saying I have heard from a former USAFA cadet is that he didn't know what fun was until his first day at Arizona State. An USAFA counterpart of mine said that many people who voluntarily drop out of the academy usually join ROTC then drop ROTC after they find out they are not compatible with the military culture at all. The only caveat to joining ROTC is if you get kicked out of the academy for poor grades. Having a GPA of less than 3.3 will put you at a lower chance for success in ROTC. If you are in good standing and you want out of the academy I don't see what would hold you back from joining ROTC once you leave the academy.

 

[Pima]

It happens more often than you think. I also agree with Alpha some that do go ROTC decide the military is just not for them

That being stated, any SA and even college is difficult to adjust to the first few months.

Several years back one of our friend's DS wanted to leave. He came home at Thanksgiving and was pretty much determined he was going to go civilian. He wanted to finish out the semester, go to a CC for spring and transfer to his back up school the following fall. His parents were understanding, and made a deal with him. They would give 1000% support if he stuck it out for the full year. They even paid for his admissions applications to reapply as a transfer.

He agreed to their terms, and his parting words were basically I WILL be at a civilian college next fall.

Long story short. He commissioned out of the AFA. His folks were smart enough to understand that the hardest year is freshman. He was going through an adjustment period like any college kid away from home, but just on steroids,

If you want to transfer you can do it, but look inside yourself and ask why? Is it the BS of eating your meals sitting at attention and reciting things, than in 6 months that crap will be a thing in the past. If it is you just realized that SAs are not LACs than maybe you should re-think about staying, because academically you will take a lot of STEM classes as a Military History major compared to someone at a civilian college.

If you are a football fan, than you might feel differently when you go to your 1st game and feel the camaraderie at an SA.

I am not pro or con either way, but I am someone that has had 3 kids go off to college, and each one of them as freshmen had that moment of doubt and questioned their decision. It usually occurred at the 6 week marker. The high of getting out of the nest, and starting a life met reality of their new life.
~ I am not comparing any SA to college, I am comparing the emotions that kids going away feel for the 1st time, and at 18 most kids don't realize that is part of the equation.
~~ As Alpha stated some drop out of ROTC after coming from an SA. Thus, it was not about the SA life IMPO, it was they were not or are not ready at that age to commit to the military.

Take the time to ask yourself which one of these categories you fall in before you take another step.

 

[Ex.BT.USN]

Although my son did not get into the Academy here is how it went for NROTC:

My son was in his 2nd day of NSO and said he would give it until Thanksgiving. He thought that his 4 years of college would be nothing but Gunny getting in his face. At the end of NSO he was loving life, NROTC, the University, and the Gunny he is more excited now than ever. When I talk to him it is all him, can't shut him up and that is just fine by me, I will listen all day!!

He said his NROTC unit is filled with all great people from the Mids to the active officers in charge. Loves everything!!

With just over two weeks in college everything is falling into place for him in a very positive way. I though the adjustment would take longer but so far so good.

 

[Pima]

EX

I know your DS intends to reapply to USNA, but I think you are starting to get a glimpse of why so many never reapply.

They fall in love with their units, and once in they see their peers graduating this year with the career fields they were selected for, they start to question do I go, because either way I will commission and go active, but if I leave for USNA I will commission 1 year later.
~ Caveat engineering program at the college is 5 years.

We do not know the OPs SA.

AFROTC and NROTC will most likely go AD.
~ AFROTC is now offering the Guard/Reserve option for 15 grads, but this is the 1st time I can recall this option ever being offered in the past 30 years. In 3 years it may be back to AD only.

AROTC has offered the Guard/Reserve option since I have been here for 7 years and has always offered those options. If they want to go AROTC and AD this is something they need to really consider before taking one more step.

 

[Ex.BT.USN]

Pima,

Thank you again, yes you were very right. He said he was going to continue to finish up on the re-application; however, right now he is comfortable and loving everything. He was telling me about his passing in review, I think that will be a moment that really tells him if he is grounded or not.

The only thing we can do is sit back, listen when needed, and support which ever direction he takes.

Good stuff, I'm sure there wil be other positive things to learn along the way. He just needs to build a strong foundation on his first year.